Two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith had quite a journey in the league, with some drastic ups and downs that taught him lesson after lesson on how to be a professional athlete.
Although Smith’s playing days are seemingly behind him after bouncing around the league over the last few years, he remains as busy as ever, with a documentary that showcased his transition from the NBA to golf recently dropping on Amazon.
During a recent appearance on The Old Man and the Three with J.J. Redick, Smith talked about Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James helping change his mentality while in the league.
The life of a professional athlete in the NBA is not easy by any means, as Redick points out the changes between Smith’s rookie season to how things are done in the league today.
The grind of the league can take a toll on players, as getting through an 82-game grind and a potentially deep playoff run is no easy task, even for seasoned veterans that are used to the day-to-day life of an NBA player.
Fortunately for Smith, the 37-year-old was able to have a successful NBA career, which has led to a career off the floor as a golfer as he played the sport for North Carolina A&T State University.
Whether Smith’s golfing career goes anywhere remains to be seen, but he’s definitely kept himself busy and seems to be enjoying life away from basketball, as he has made the transition seamlessly and could have a bright second career down the road.
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